No one wants cockroaches in their home, but these stubborn pests can often find their way in. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to prevent this.
1. Seal Entry Points
Roaches find their way into your home through exceptionally small openings, so you may not be able to seal them. Yet, sealing up the most obvious entry points can still greatly reduce the chances of an infestation. Use silicone caulk to seal cracks in the foundation, holes in your siding, or gaps around window and door frames. Further, make sure all weather-stripping around windows and doors is in good condition with no gaps.
2. Manage All Crumbs
A food source is the main attractant to roaches, so the kitchen is often where they first turn up. Wipe down counters after every cooking session so there are never crumbs present. Sweep and mop floors daily or as necessary. Further, keep the pantry shelves clean and store all food items in tight sealing containers. If your family eats in other parts of the home, make sure dishes are put away and crumbs are cleaned up daily.
3. Ventilate and Seal Crawl Spaces
Another common entry point for roaches is through your home's crawlspace. They are usually first drawn there for water and protection, so the best way to keep roaches away is to make sure your crawlspace is properly ventilated so it doesn't collect moisture. You may also need to have the crawlspace sealed to further avoid humidity buildup and to ensures roaches don't find their way into your home through the crawlspace.
4. Clean Up Your Garbage
Garbage cans, both indoors and out, can be a major attractant to roaches. When it comes to indoor garbage, empty it daily and keep the cans clean and deodorized. For outdoor garbage, always bag food garbage before disposing of it. Keep the garbage cans clean and make sure they have tight-fitting lids so roaches can't easily get in. If the can is vented, install a mesh screen over the vent holes to keep out pests.
5. Schedule Preventative Treatments
Preventative pest control creates a barrier that helps keep roaches out. Your pest control specialist will spray around the external perimeter of your home to create that barrier. Indoors, they may also treat common first infestation areas, such as under-sink cabinets or in the basement. Typically, a once a month treatment is all that is needed to prevent an infestation.
Contact a pest control service in your area for more help with roach infestations.
Pest control is a complex topic. To really master the subject, you need to know about many different pests, how they all react to different control measures, and how to prevent pest infestations in the first place. It's really helpful to break this topic down into smaller chunks. That's what we aim to do on this website. We offer a wide range of articles on particular pest control subjects. No one article will teach you everything you need to know, but they all include bits and pieces of knowledge which, when added together, will teach you quite a lot. Start reading to learn more about pest control and pests.